This document provides an analysis of the Nico Lopez Oil Refinery site in Havana, Cuba. It includes background information on the refinery's history from 1957 to present. Maps show the refinery site, surrounding neighborhoods, and transportation network. Diagrams inventory existing buildings, tanks, and infrastructure on site. The document then explores opportunities for re-purposing site elements through solar, wind, and water technologies. Architectural precedents from Old Havana are presented. A brainstorm session covers cultural and mobility factors. The approach proposes a phased transformation of the site over 80 years to remediate, establish community, strengthen resilience, and enable long-term adaptation.

1. ANALYSIS
NICO LOPEZ OIL REFINERY
HAVANA, CUBA
INTERNATIONAL DESIGN EXCHANGE:
INDEX STUDIO 2016

2. Regla
Casa Blanca
Ferry to Old Havana
Ferry to Regla
Distrito del Centro
Puento Nico Lopez
Distrito del Arte
Distrito del Mercado
Garanja Urbana
El Bosque
Paseo
del Union
Via
M
ercado
La
Avenida
de
la
Refineria
Via Triangulo
Calle de la Bahia
Paseo
Alonzo
Via
Verde
Centro de Agua
500’ 1,500’0’

3. size comparison
Cuba
Havana
Nico Lopez Refinery
Ohio
Cleveland
First Energy Coverage
Overall: 42,803 sq miles
Coastline: 2,017 miles
Population: 11.38 mil
Overall: 44,825 sq miles
Coastline: 293 miles
Population: 11.61 mil
Overall: 281.2 sq miles
Population: 2.12 mil
Overall: 82.47 sq miles
Population: 289,521
Overall: 500 acres Overall: 100 acres

4. employment
1. Agriculture
2. Industry
3. Services

5. neighborhood map

6. transit map

7. asset map

8. vicinity map
old
havana
regala
nico lopez
oil refinery
power plant

9. Vicinity Mapview across bay
regalanico lopez oil refinery powerplant

10. 1980
20161915
1960’s
1957
Belot Refinery (New Jersey Standard Oil)
Shell Oil
International Oil Companies Nationalized
First Energy Coal Plant Approved for Demolition
Nico Lopez Oil Refinery
history

11. Belot (Esso)+
Shell =
Ñico Lopez

12. buildings on site

13. tanks on site

14. density

15. Large
Medium
Small
tanks by size

16. re-purposed tanks

17. tank options

18. solar
re-purposed aluminum cans glass solar tiles eTree charging station
as shading mechanism
as “forest” as tunnel

19. hydrowind

20. ARCHITECTURAL FORM

21. water
photo by: Caitlyn Scoville

22. streets branching from plazas
photo by: Megan Mitchell

23. narrow streets
photo by: Megan Mitchell

24. streets become public space
photo by: Megan Mitchell

25. termination/focal points
photo by: Megan Mitchell

26. tree presence
photo by: Megan Mitchell

27. frame the sky
old havana regla
photo by: Megan Mitchell

28. continuous plaza facades
photo by: Megan Mitchell

29. chamfered corners, loggias, corner parks
photo by: Megan Mitchell

30. pocket of light
photo by: Megan Mitchellphoto by: Megan Mitchell

31. pocket of light
Cuban American
Sunshine
photo by: Morgan Gundlach

32. BRAINSTORM SESSION

33. -Buildings centered around an inner
courtyard
- Wrought iron important to culture
Stained glass
- Beacons at nodes of alley
- In Old Havana the streets are
narrow (sidewalks 4’ street 20’)
- Layers of architecture: Colonial,
Soviet, Modern
- Community spaces all throughout
the city
- Need to reduce urban heat island
effect
architectural form
photo by: Sam Friesema

34. -Bike represent a negative point in
their history, so not prominent form
of transport
- Ferry across the Bay : $0.05
-Destination of ferry is from Old
Havana to Regla or Casablanca
- In Old Havana, there are minimal
cars and more walkable
- The water near the break-wall
often hits pedestrians or cars
- Many Cubans walk in the street,
due to narrow width of the
sidewalks effect
mobility
photo by: Lizz Weiss

35. - Tourism plays an important role in
the economy of Havana
-The seawall that becomes the
world’s greatest bench
-One of the most polluted Bays in
the world
- Redeveloped pocket parks all
across the city from dump sites into
planted, clean sites
other facts
photo by: Lizz Weiss

36. THE APPROACH

37. - remediate site
- improve water quality
- preserve heritage
Nourish
(0-20 years)

38. - public space and parks
- build community and
identity
- culture
- educate
Establish
(20-40 years)

39. - resilient waterfront
- resilient waterfront
-expand development
- establish new traditions
Strengthen
(40-60 years)

40. - adaptive
- continue development
Thrive
(60-80 years)